Portrait of Henry Ford

Henry Ford

Ford Motor Company, assembly line

Modern influential 100 sayings

Sayings by Henry Ford

I have not been able to discover that anyone knows enough to say what is and what is not possible.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

Don't find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

There is no joy in work without application.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
Work & Money Unverifiable

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity for not knowing what can't be done.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

To teach that a man is a machine and a machine is a man is to teach that the ideal man is a machine.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
General Unverifiable

Chasing after money is a poor way to live.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
Work & Money Unverifiable

Power and machinery, money and goods, are useful only as they set us free to live.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
Work & Money Unverifiable

I do not believe in the five-day week.

1926 — Statement to the press
General Unverifiable

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

It is not necessary for a man to be a genius to be successful; he only has to be himself.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

I believe God is in me as I am in Him. The only difference is that He is the whole thing and I am a part.

1925 — Interview with the Detroit News
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

There can be no failure unless there is a complete abandonment of effort.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
General Unverifiable

It is not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance that is the death of knowledge.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, often to Alfred North Whitehead, but sometimes to Ford in collections.
Food & Drink Unverifiable

The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Attributed, but exact source is debated.
Food & Drink Unverifiable

You can take my factories, burn my buildings, but give me my people, and I'll build the business right back again.

Uncertain, early 20th century — Widely attributed, often cited as an anecdote.
Work & Money Unverifiable

The average man won't really do a day's work unless he is supervised, and the average man often makes mistakes.

1922 — From 'My Life and Work'
Work & Money Unverifiable

The Jew is the race that will not let mankind forget.

1920 — From 'The International Jew', a series of antisemitic articles published in Ford's newspaper
Social & Racial Unverifiable
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